Can God Save You from Suffering?

If you’re at the end of your rope and are wondering where God is or why He’s not delivering you, you are not alone. It doesn’t matter how much faith you have. At such times, it’s only human to feel frustrated and angry.

To be human is to doubt at times whether He’s there at all.

Are you struggling with alcoholism? Does it feel like Satan has a grip on your heart and mind, convincing you day after day that the next bottle will provide relief?

Is the marriage that you once believed God had ordained turning out to be so difficult you wonder if His hand had ever been in it?

Are you wondering how you’re going to make it to your next paycheck with what little food you have in the cupboard?

Psalm 77 was written by Asaph, someone who apparently understood what it feels like to wonder where God is in the midst of suffering. That is especially evident in verses 7-9 (NIV):

“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

The psalmist uses strong words here that don’t sound like they describe a loving God. He feels rejected, that God’s love has vanished, that His promise has failed.

Thankfully, Asaph doesn’t leave us with despair as the only option. He offers a powerful prescription for hope in verses 10-12:

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Meditate? This doesn’t seem very powerful at first. Not when we’re suffering.

We want solutions. We want our problems fixed. Temptations gone. Marriage fixed. Food in the cupboard. Asaph merely says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord.”

It’s natural to wonder, what good is that going to do?

Jesus Christ provides some explanation in Mark 11. He had cursed a fig tree the day before. Peter marveled that it had withered. Jesus said in response, “Have faith in God … I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22&24, NLT)

If you believe you’ve received it. Past tense. Already done.

See, when we look back on what the Lord has done for us, we remember who He is. Who He’s always been. One who answers prayer. One who is good. One who is faithful.

It’s like Jesus is saying that the question is not, “Where is God now?” Instead, He’s saying believe the Father is here. Remember that He has always been here, that He has delivered time and time again. Not in the way you expected. Not at the time you expected. But He did it.

Then, ask for what your heart desires. He will provide. Again.

Take a minute to watch Chip talk about how the many times He’s been where you are – in a time of suffering wondering where God is – and how remembering how he saw God deliver in those times is the key to seeing Him now. 

To find out more about the character of God, check out our series: The Real God.